American Politics Today - Essentials (3rd Ed)

262 CHAPTER 9|CONGRESS

affordable health care. As Figure 9.2 shows, citizens clearly want their elected

officials to get them a fair share of the federal pie and to do casework for the

district. But survey respondents show little interest in having their represen-

tatives “work in Congress concerning national bills.” Thus responsibilities for

national interests may be more difficult for members of Congress to explain to

their constituents.

The Electoral Connection

Members’ relationship to their constituents also must be understood within the

context of their desire to be re-elected. Political scientist David Mayhew argues

that re-election must come fi rst.^4 Members of Congress certainly hold multiple

goals, including making good policy; but if they cannot maintain their seats, then

they cannot attain other goals while in offi ce.

After assuming that re-election is central, Mayhew asks this question: “Mem-

bers of Congress may be electorally motivated, but are they in a position to do

anything about it?”^5 Although individual members of Congress cannot do much

to alter national economic or political forces, they can control their own activities

in the House or Senate. The importance of the electoral connection in explain-

ing members’ behavior seems especially clear for marginal incumbents who are

Making sure district

gets fair share

of government projects

Average rating (scale of 0–1)

Helping constituents who

have problems with

the government

Working in Congress

concerning national bills

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

1.0

House

Senate

Source: Adapted from Paul Gronke, The Electorate, the Campaign, and the Offi ce: A Unifi ed Approach to

Senate and House Elections (Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 2001), Table 6.5.

THE JOB OF A MEMBER OF CONGRESS

Congress is often criticized for passing pork-barrel policies that benefi t specifi c

districts. Yet this survey clearly shows that people want their “fair share” and are less

concerned with whether their representative works on “national bills.” Why do you

think that is?

FIGURE » 9.2

casework Assistance provided
by members of Congress to their
constituents in solving problems
with the federal bureaucracy or
addressing other specifi c concerns.

electoral connection The idea
that congressional behavior is
centrally motivated by members’
desire for re-election.